Cai Wenji

Playwright: Guo Moruo
Premiered in 1959

The script of Cai Wenji was written by Guo Moruo (1892-1978), a renowned author, poet, and historian, for the art troupe in 1959. With poetic and majestic style, Guo succeeded in representing the image of Cai Yan, whose maiden name was Wenji, a great female literary writer in the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).

The play centers on her turbulent years. She was a captive of the nomadic Xiongnu until 207 when the warlord Cao Cao (155-220), the Han Chancellor, paid a heavy ransom to bring her back to Han territory. After coming back to her hometown, Cai created a series of outstanding poems and collated many precious ancient books. The drama also depicts Cao Cao from a new perspective.